Broken

The sweet scent of sugary perfume filled my nose almost instantly as I kicked a pebble into a large tuft of grass. I smiled sadly and turned around, my head resting on the large, flowering tree in the center of our favorite park.1

"Matthew?" Her voice was small as she placed her cold hand on my shoulder. I brushed her away softly and sighed.2

"Sarah." There was nothing left to say that I could think of. What else was I supposed to tell her? That I hated her so much I could pick up a jagged stone and bring it down on her head over and over again? That I loved her so much that I would walk through fire for her and not get burned if she asked me to?3

"Matthew, what's wrong?" I could feel her hard gaze digging underneath my skin.4

"You know what you did," I said simply, turning my head toward the pond. At least I think it was the pond. My head was so numb and confused at this point that I probably couldn't answer what two plus two was correctly.5

There was a moment of silence. For all I know she could be laughing silently at me. Or maybe she had left and I hadn't heard her footsteps fade away? But, no. The scent of her perfume was still strong and heavy in the air.6

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. I could tell that she was looking at her feet. What shoes was she wearing? Her black, polished ones, or her old sneakers that couldn't even be saved if they were carefully hand washed? It would be a bad question to ask now.7

"You promised you'd be with me forever," I told her, trying to keep calm.8

"But I'm still with you!" Her voice had taken on a sharp edge, and she sounded like she was holding back tears.9

"It's my turn to say sorry, Sarah," I said. I turned around and brushed my hand against the smooth leaves of the tree and plucked a flower from one of the branches.10

"You can't do this!" she said shrilly. "You can't leave me!"11

"You're the one who left me." I spun around so suddenly that she squeaked. "Who is he?"12

She started to back away.13

"His name is Seamus," she said, her voice breaking. "I didn't want for it to happen, Matt, but it did. Can't we get over it? I'll dump him, I promise!"14

"You've already broken your promise to stay true and your promise to stay with me until the very end," I said coldly.15

"Matt, please," she begged, "Please, don't do this to me. I can't live without you!"16

"Go away," I told her. "I never want to see you again."17

Her sadness suddenly turned to anger.18

"You can't see!" she shouted at me. "You're just a blind idiot who can't keep a single girl without doing something dumb and losing it all!"19

I didn't speak. I stroked one of the velvety-smooth petals of the flower in my hand and plucked it.20

"I hate you!"21

I plucked another petal.22

"I'll spread word that YOU were the one that cheated on me, Matthew Flint!"23

Pluck, pluck pluck. They all fell to the ground.24

"You'll never get another date!" She was stomping her foot furiously now. "Ever! I promise! No, wait. I SWEAR! What now?" She stalked off angrily, but I could hear her sniffling and could swear that one of her tears had dropped on my arm on her way out of the park. I almost chuckled underneath my breath, but then I realized the lump in my throat.25

I sighed and let go of the mangled flower. Before it could hit the ground, a gust of wind picked it up and carried it away to another land.26

I slumped to the stump of the tree, wondering if I should call her and give her another chance.27

After all...
promises were meant to be broken.